Beyond the “Alternatives”: The Future of Proteins

Hey there FoodHack Netherlands community,

After a short break due to the change of the FoodHack Amsterdam Ambassadors, we’re excited to invite you to our next meet-up, where we’ll dive into one of the most debated topics in food innovation: the evolution of innovative proteins - what for the last few years we’ve called “alternatives”.

Beyond the “Alternatives”: The Future of Proteins
🚨Registrations are opened - secure your spot here 🚨

Over the past decade, plant-based products have generated massive excitement and high expectations, with brands like Beyond Meat and Oatly even reaching the public markets in historic IPOs. Yet despite the early momentum, results haven’t matched what many - especially investors - anticipated. Were expectations realistic? Did these products truly meet consumer needs? Was the language ever right to persuade those on the fence? And what explains the gap between performance and investor hopes?

In this session, outstanding speakers and entrepreneurs will reflect on these questions and, more importantly, look ahead to the next generation of proteins. From precision fermentation to up-cycling and novel protein sources, we’ll highlight the trends shaping this space and why we believe a new era of innovation is only just beginning.

This event is both a moment of reflection and a forward-looking exploration of the protein transition: what we can learn from the past, and where the biggest opportunities lie. Whether you’re an investor, founder, food scientist, or industry professional, don’t miss the chance to join the conversation - sign up here.

📅 Save the Date: October 9th, 2025

🕐 Time: 18:00 - 20:00 (doors open at 17:30)

📍Venue: Amsterdam city (venue TBA in the next email)

🔥Speakers🔥

Ferry Kamp: with 25+ years of experience transforming the food industry - from Unilever to fast-scaling ventures - Ferry brings a unique perspective as a growth leader, venture builder, and investor. He has helped build and scale leading plant-based protein companies worldwide, including V2Food (Australia), Meatless Farm (UK), and Greenforce (Germany). As co-founder of REMAGINE FOOD and impact investment advisor to EIT Food – Climate KIC, he supports founders in bridging the gap from launch to scale. With deep expertise in “plant-based meat” and beyond, Ferry is a key voice on the lessons of the past decade and the future of the protein transition.

Sneha Chatterjee is an investor at Ki Tua Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of Fonterra Dairy Co-operative. She focuses on evaluating breakthrough technologies shaping the future of the “Alternative Dairy” industry. With a background in biotechnology and a deep commitment to sustainable solutions, Sneha brings a unique perspective on how science-driven technologies can scale, and what investors seek in growth-stage startups.

Xander Koning is a chef and HORECA expert turned food innovator, is co-founder and COO of Muchroom, a disruptive Dutch player in the protein transition. His journey from the kitchen to entrepreneurship gives him a unique perspective on why taste and real food must stay at the heart of food innovation. In this session, he’ll share how gastronomy meets next-gen proteins — and participants will get to taste Muchroom’s creations firsthand. We never imagined discarded shiitake stems could taste so delicious.

In our next email, we’ll also introduce another startups offering product tastings at the event - stay tuned!

The event is free but registration is necessary. You can save your spot here.

​In case of any questions, feel free to reach out to the new FoodHack Amsterdam Ambassadors: Ajda Sever and Gloria Fiore.

We can’t wait to see you there on October 9th! 🚀

Team FoodHack Amsterdam